H.S. FOOTBALL: Paulish and Beh win Hookey Reap awards

Noah Beh and Ryan Paulish are a pair of big guys who played huge roles in their teams’ success on the football field.

Both were recognized for their contributions along the line of scrimmage.

Scranton Prep’s Beh, who is going to Penn State, and Old Forge’s Paulish, who is headed to Colgate, are the recipients of the Hookey Reap awards that recognize the top linemen from Lackawanna County.

Beh is the defensive winner, while Paulish is the winner on offense.

Scranton Prep’s Joe Holmes is the runner-up to Beh for the defensive honor, while Dunmore’s James McHale is the runner-up to Paulish for the offensive award.

The honors are presented by the District 11 American Legion. The selection of this season’s winners is being dedicated to Joe Healey, who had been the chairman of the committee and a longtime advocate of youth sports. He died in February after an illness.

“We lost a true gentleman and champion of youth sports within the American Legion and Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Bob Pollish, who represents District 11 and is a member of the Hookey Reap selection

committee.

“He meant so much to so many. We will probably never see another person like him again. He will be dearly missed by all those whose lives he touched and I am so grateful and honored to have shared time and been mentored by such a humble and caring man as Joe Healey.”

Beh helped lead Scranton Prep to the Lackawanna Football Conference

Division I championship and a 10-1 record. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive end had 53 total tackles with 28 solo and five sacks.

His postseason honors include being named to The Times-Tribune All-Region team, the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ Class AAA all-state team, the American Family Insurance USA Today All-Pennsylvania Football team and will represent Pennsylvania in the Big 33 Football Classic.

He was also nominated as a candidate for the award on offense.

Paulish was a Times-Tribune All-Region offensive tackle, who also earned a spot on the Class A all-state team after helping Old Forge to the District 2 Class A championship and to the PIAA Class A championship game.

The 6-4, 290-pound three-year starter played a role in running back Brandon Yescavage gaining 2,666 yards with a total of 46 touchdowns last season.

He too was nominated as a candidate for the defensive award.

Other nominees for the awards were Abington Heights’ Dan Stevens, Old Forge’s Joey Bruno and Paul Papi, Carbondale Area’s Isaiah McCord, John O’Boyle and Ben Rarrick.

Contact the writer:

jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com @JobyFawcett26 on Twitter

HOOKEY REAP

PAST WINNERS

1957: Leonard Kresefski, Old Forge

1958: Leonard Kresefski, Old Forge

1959: Pete Kwolek, Blakely

1960: Marty Marino, Old Forge

1961: Lou Astolfi, Old Forge

1962: Lou Astolfi, Old Forge

1963: William Stetzar, West Scranton

1964: Jim Kane, Dunmore

1965: Gino Merli, Blakely

1966: ErnieWeston, Blakely

1967: Doan Toolan, Blakely

1968: Tom Wascura, Blakely

1969: Charlie Raymond, Dunmore

1970: John Cheplick, Valley View

1971: Charlie Scalamonti, Valley View

1972: O: Jim Walton, Valley View

D: Jim Moran, Valley View

1973: O: Henry Wylam, Old Forge

D: Lou Coviello, Dunmore

1974: O: Chris Matics, Scranton Prep

D: Chris Belardi, Central

1975: O: Ed Bugno,West Scranton

D: Mike Yaworski, Valley View

1976: O: Jim Giombetti, Valley View

D: Steve Hricenak, Abington Hts.

1977: O: Vince Tomasetti, Old Forge

D: Lou Armezzani, Valley View

1978: O: Darrell Frantz, Scranton Central

D: Bob Balkunas, Riverside

1979: O: Doug Davis, Abington Heights

D: Jim Simrell, Scranton Central

1980: O: Jack Miles, Dunmore

D: Pete Giombetti, Valley View

1981: O: Chris Clauss, Lakeland

D: Bob Charette, Scranton Tech

1982: O: Chris Clauss, Lakeland

D: Gary O’Grady, Scranton Prep

1983: O: Brock Edwards, North Pocono

D: Glenn Pazzaglia, Valley View

1984: O: Len Kresefski, Scranton Prep

D: Ernie Sebastianelli, Valley View

1985: O: Gary Murracco, Dunmore

D: Marc Spindler,West Scranton

1986: O: Rick Bray, Valley View

D: Marc Spindler,West Scranton

1987: O: Rick Bray, Valley View

D: Tom Prawdzik, Lakeland

1988: O: Dan Pidgeon, Lakeland

D: Tim Ruddy, Dunmore

1989: O: Tim Ruddy, Dunmore

D: Tim Ruddy, Dunmore

1990: O: Greg Murphy, Scranton Prep

D: Dave Rebar, Mid Valley

1991: O: SeanWhitelavich, N. Pocono

D: Keith Olsommer, North Pocono

1992: O: Jason Sepkowski, N. Pocono

D: Kelly Peters, Valley View

1993: O: Derek Forgione, Dunmore

D: Ron Walter, West Scranton

1994: O: Carmen LiBassi, Dunmore

D: Greg Caucci, Lakeland

1995: O: Ben Thomas, Riverside

D: Harry Kirias, Dunmore

1996: O: Dan Kozlowski, Valley View

D: P.J. Spano,West Scranton

1997: O: Kevin Johnson, North Pocono

D: Joe Kowalski, Riverside

1998: O: Kevin Manning, Abington Hts.

D: Adam Smith, Abington Heights

1999: O: Joe Boniewicz, Dunmore

D: Bret Leavesley, Abington Hts.

2000: O: Morris Jackson, Lacka. Trail

D: Pat Carrube, Lakeland

2001: O: Morris Jackson, Lacka. Trail

D: Mark Mushel, Lakeland

2002: O: Mike Boccella, Dunmore

D: Shoaib Tajak, Scranton

2003: O: Chris Borgna, Lakeland

D: Chris Bennett, Lakeland

2004: O: Keith Galinsky, Lakeland

D: Jesse Hinkley, Scranton

2005: O: Stephen Bennett, Lakeland

D: Frank Emmett, Abington Hts.

2006: O: S. DePhillips, Abington Hts.

O: Joe Lemoncelli, Lakeland

D: Hubie Graham,West Scranton

2007: O: Hubie Graham,West Scranton

D: Hubie Graham,West Scranton

2008: O: Eric Shrive,West Scranton

D: Tom Bennie, Riverside

2009: O: Sal Conaboy, Abington Hts.

D: Evan Craig, Abington Hts.

2010: O: Paul Gaughan, Dunmore

D: Morgan Craig, Abington Hts.

2011: O: Chris Cicilioni, Valley View

D: Mike Galantini, Valley View

2012: O: Mike Boland, Dunmore

D: Mike Boland, Dunmore

2013: O: Ryan Paulish, Old Forge

D: Noah Beh, Scranton Prep

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